Committee publication · Correspondence · 19 May 2026
Correspondence from Minister for Digital Economy, re: Merger of UK Space Agency and DSIT, 11 May 2026
Summary
Baroness Lloyd notifies the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee that the UK Space Agency has been merged with DSIT's Space Directorate, effective 1 April 2026, forming a new directorate within DSIT. The merger, arising from a Cabinet Office efficiency review, consolidates space policy, strategy and delivery under one roof led by Rebecca Evernden, aiming to reduce duplication, cut bureaucracy, and enhance ministerial oversight of UK space activities.
Key findings
- UK Space Agency ceased to be an Executive Agency on 1 April 2026; all functions integrated into DSIT with technical systems integration to complete by 1 June 2026
- New directorate retains UK Space Agency brand and is led by Rebecca Evernden as Director; merger unites space policy, strategy, and delivery within government
- Merger aims to reduce bureaucracy, eliminate duplication, and place public accountability and ministerial oversight at the centre of space decision-making
- New unit holds responsibilities spanning government space strategy, civil space policy, programme delivery, support for science base, sector sponsorship, and cross-government international engagement
- Government reaffirms UK commitment to ESA programmes, noting every £1 public investment yields £7.49 direct economic benefit to the UK
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Baroness Lloyd, Dame Chi Onwurah MP, Rebecca Evernden, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), UK Space Agency, Cabinet Office, Ministry of Defence (MoD), European Space Agency (ESA)
Notable line
“The merging of the UK Space Agency with the Space Directorate within DSIT, unites space policy, strategy and delivery, enabling us to bring this important issue closer to ministers and cut duplication, reduce bureaucracy …”
Key Quotes
“Following the Cabinet Office's review of Arm's Length Bodies, commissioned in April 2025 to drive efficiency and reduce bureaucracy as part of Prime Minister's Plan for Change, the decision was taken by ministers to merge the UK Space Agency with DSIT's Sp ace Directorate from 1 April 2026 …”
“The merging of the UK Space Agency with the Space Directorate within DSIT, unites space policy, strategy and delivery, enabling us to bring this important issue closer to ministers and cut duplication, reduce bureaucracy, and put public accountability at the heart of decision-making.”
“… every £1 public investment in ESA programmes has led to £7.49 of direct benefits to the UK economy”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗